Nutritional Improvement of Fresh Cheese with Microalga Chlorella vulgaris: Impact on Composition, Structure and Sensory Acceptance

Research background

The production of foods fortified with bioactive ingredients has been recognized by food companies as a way to position their products in health food markets. The fortification of cheese represents a major challenge, due to the chemical and structural complexity of the cheese matrix, as well as the complexity of the biochemical reactions occurring during the fermentation and maturation processes. Microalgae are nutritious and sustainable food sources with important bioactive compounds such as proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, polysaccharides, chlorophylls, carotenoids, vitamins and minerals.

Experimental approach

This work aims to study the impact of the 2 and 4 % microalga Chlorella vulgaris addition on the nutritional composition, bioactivity, structure and sensory profile of quark and cream cheese, both probiotic fermented products. Texture profile analysis and fundamental rheology measurements (oscillatory and stationary) were performed to evaluate the impact of C. vulgaris on the mechanical properties of the fresh cheese. The nutritional composition was evaluated using standard methods and bioactivity through the determination of total phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity.¹.

Results and conclusions

C. vulgaris had an impact on the firmness of both cheeses. In general, the cheese with added C. vulgaris had a better nutritional profile, with an increase in protein content, content of Mg, P, S, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn, and better bioactivity with an increase in the antioxidant activity. Sensory testing results were promising, especially for cream cheese.

Novelty and scientific contribution

The enrichment of traditional foods such as fresh cheese with microalgae represents an interesting strategy to develop hybrid products (with protein from animal and vegetable sources), obtain innovative and more sustainable products, and improve their nutritional profile in terms of protein and mineral content and bioactivity.

The 2009-2014 economic crisis and deaths by suicide in Portugal: time series analysis

Introduction

Population health, including mental health, is influenced by its socioeconomic context. After the 2008 global economic crisis, studies found contradicting results: some showed an increased risk for self-harm and suicidal behavior, while others found the opposite association. To the best of our knowledge, there is no research in Portugal on the subject. Thus, our aim was to estimate the impact of the Portuguese economic crisis of 2009-2014 on the death rate by suicide and self-inflicted injury in Portugal.

Methods

A retrospective ecological study with an interrupted time series analysis of deaths by suicide and self-inflicted injury (data from the National Statistics Institute) in mainland Portugal, in 2003-2014, was performed. Resident population data was also retrieved from the National Statistics Institute. Binomial negative generalized linear models were used to compare rates and trends before (2003-2008) and during (2009-2014) the economic crisis. All rates were stratified and adjusted for seasonality.

Results

The economic crisis was associated with 13% a step increase in the death rate due to suicide and self-inflicted injury, with unemployment playing a significant mediating role, being negatively associated to the outcome. Differences between groups exist, with males, working-age groups and the North and Centre regions being the most impacted, globally.

Conclusions

Economic downturns pose risks for suicidal behavior. Unemployment may play a role in this association. Employment protection schemes can prevent this impact, so urgent action is needed to prevent economic crisis leading to additional suicides, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis it caused.

Key messages

• The Portuguese economic crisis of 2009-2014 was associated with an increased death rate due to suicide, especially in males, working-age groups and the North and Centre regions.

• Unemployment may play a role in this association, and active labour market programmes can prevent the negative impacts of economic crisis leading to additional suicides.

The economic burden of Diabetes Mellitus in Belgium from 2013 to 2017

Background

Considering the growing prevalence of chronic disease and diabetes mellitus (DM) in Belgium, alongside population aging, insight into the economic burden of DM is essential for decision makers. To the best of our knowledge, there is no research on the subject in Belgium. Thus, our aim was to estimate the direct and indirect costs associated to DM in Belgium between 2013 and 2017.

Methods

On a first phase, we performed a retrospective observational study, calculating the direct (i.e., ambulatory care, hospitalizations and medications) and indirect (work absenteeism, by multiplying mean daily wage and days absent from work) costs in the Belgian population with DM in 2013-2017. Data was retrieved from the Belgian Intermutualistic Agency (which manages compulsory health insurance) database and the Belgian Health Interview Survey database, namely DM prevalence, healthcare costs, days absent from work and sociodemographic and health factors. Subsequently, negative binomial regression models were used to assess the association of mean yearly costs to DM and adjustments for age, education level, physical activity, sugared drink consumption and body-mass index were included. Mean incremental costs were estimated through recycled predictions, considering the observed DM prevalence in Belgium in the study period and a counterfactual scenario with null prevalence.

Results

We found a direct mean yearly incremental cost of €2 477 per DM patient, in Belgium, associated with age, low educational level and low physical activity. In the total Belgian population, the total yearly incremental healthcare cost of DM was €1.5 billion. Indirect yearly incremental cost of DM resulted to be not significantly different from the population without DM.

Conclusions

DM has a major economic burden in Belgium, one that is expected to continue to rise in the future, alongside population aging. These results are essential for health planning and resource allocation.

Key messages

• DM has a major economic burden in Belgium, especially when it comes to direct health expenditures with ambulatory care, hospitalizations and medications.

• Considering the growing prevalence of DM and population aging, these results are essential for health planning and resource allocation.

COVID-19 government response measures: analysis in the European Union

Introduction

The global spread of COVID-19 has led to a wide range of responses from governments, including in the European Union (EU). Measures involve travel restrictions, school closings, bans on public gatherings, emergency investments in healthcare, contact tracing and social welfare. However, responses have varied in scope, stringency and timing. The aim of this study was to analyse government response measures in the EU and differences across EU countries, in 2020.

Methods

Using Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker indices (Stringency Index, Containment and Health Index, Economic Support Index, Overall Government Response Index; all scored 1-100), estimates were analysed for the EU and each country, in 2020.

Results

While the Stringency, Overall Government Response and Containment and Health indices were generally in line with COVID-19 incidence progression (peak in April-May, decrease in the summer, new increase in the fall and second peak in November-December), for all EU countries, the Economic Support Index showed heterogeneous patterns between countries. In the EU, the Stringency Index ranged from 1,85 to 96,30 (median:54,63; SD:21,07), the highest median in Ireland and the lowest Croatia. The Containment and Health Index ranged from 1,92 to 84,29 (median:52,88; SD:17,77), again with Ireland showing the highest median, but this time, Estonia the lowest. For the Economic Support Index, ranging from 12,50 to 100 (median:75,00;SD:20,36), Cyprus had the highest median, and Germany the lowest. The Overall Government Response Index ranged from 1,67 to 83,78 (median:55,83; SD:18,36), with the highest median in Cyprus and the lowest in Estonia.

Conclusions

There was wide variation in response measures across the EU countries, in 2020. The Economic Support Index showed quite a different pattern compared to the other ones. Understanding these trends and patterns allows for mutual learning and better preparedness for future pandemics.

Key messages

There was wide variation in response measures across the EU in 2020, especially in economic support. Understanding these patterns allows for better preparedness in future pandemics.

Impact of the 2009-2014 economic crisis on suicide attempts and self-harm in Portugal

Background

Following the worldwide economic crisis of 2008, studies have found an increased risk for self-harm and suicide attempts, many of which need hospital care. There is no research in Portugal on the matter. Therefore, our goal was to estimate the impact of the Portuguese economic crisis of 2009-2014 on the hospital admission rates by attempted suicide and self-harm in Portugal.

Methods

A retrospective ecological study, with an interrupted time series analysis of hospital admissions by suicide attempts (data from the national Hospital Mobility Database) in mainland Portugal, between 2003 and 2014, was performed. Resident population data over 15 years old was retrieved from the National Statistics Institute. Poisson regression models were used to compare rates and trends before (2003-2008) and during (2009-2014) the Portuguese economic crisis. All rates were adjusted for seasonality.

Results

A total of 35,077 hospital admission episodes by suicide attempt were retrieved. The mean admission rate was 2.947 per 100 000 inhabitants per month before the crisis, falling to 2.798 during the crisis period. Before the crisis, the total admission rate was decreasing 1% per year. After the crisis erupted, there was a level change, with a sudden increase of 7.9%. The suicide and self-harm admission rate, after 2008, was constant and approximately 38.8% higher than expected if the earlier trend had continued.

Conclusions

There was an increase in the total hospital admission rate by suicide attempts and self-harm during the economic crisis period in Portugal, when compared to the previous period.

Key messages

Economic crisis can pose considerable suicide risks. Urgent action is needed to prevent economic crisis leading to additional suicides.

Effects of animal type (wild vs. domestic) and diet alfalfa level on intake and digestibility of European adult rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the level of alfalfa in the diet on feed intake and digestibility of two types of rabbits, wild (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus) vs. domestic (O. cuniculus cuniculus). Ten wild (W; mean LW = 927 g) and 10 domestic (D; mean LW = 4,645 g) adult rabbit does were fed ad libitum two pelleted diets: a control diet (C) with 15% of dehydrated alfalfa hay (as feed basis) and a test diet (A) with 36% of dehydrated alfalfa hay (as feed basis), according to a change-over design. Wild does dry matter (DM) intake per kg live weight (BW) was 55% higher (p < .001) than the intake of the D ones (58 g vs. 37 g DM per kg BW respectively). However, no difference (p > .05) was found when intake was expressed per kg^0.75 BW (ca. 56 g DM) and tended to be higher (p = .07) in D does when expressed per kg^0.67 BW (62 g vs. 55 g DM). Domestic does showed a higher (p < .05) DM, organic matter, crude energy and neutral detergent fibre digestibility (3; 2; 3; 3 percentage points respectively) than W does. The amount of nutrients and energy digested by D does was lower per kg BW (p < .001), similar per kg^0.75 BW (p > .05) and tended to be higher per kg^0.67 BW (p < .1) than in W does. The diet content of alfalfa did not affect (p > .05) the feed intake nor the diet digestibility. This study suggests that W rabbits exhibit a higher intake per kg BW and a lower digestibility than their D counterparts, which results in similar digestible nutrient and energy intake per kg BW powered to 0.75. The nutritive value of dehydrated alfalfa for rabbits, evaluated through intake and digestibility, seems to be equivalent to their base diets (forage plus concentrate).

Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of growing rabbits housed in cages or open-air park

Abstract. The study was carried out to investigate the effects of two housing systems on the growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of growing rabbits during the terminal fattening period. The rabbits were lodged in conventional cages between 35 and 59 days of age (growing period). At this age, they were moved into two different housing systems until they were 87 days of age (fattening period). During the fattening period, 48 rabbits were housed in 12 wire cages (0.5×0.6×0.35 m) and 48 rabbits were housed in one open-air pasture pen (20×9 m). At 87 days, 12 rabbits per treatment were slaughtered and the carcass characteristics and meat quality were evaluated. During the fattening period, the rabbits reared in cages had significantly higher live weights (3 062 vs. 2 705 g), weight gains (45.9 vs. 34.2 g·d−1) and feed intakes (163.4 vs. 110.2 g·d−1) than those reared in pens. The rabbits in the open-air group had a lower percentage of dissectible fat (1.35 vs. 4.19 %), a higher proportion of hind part (34.9 vs. 33.1 %), and less hind leg muscle (79.3 vs. 81.9 %) than caged rabbits. The m. biceps femoris of the rabbits in the open-air group had a higher cooking loss (3.64 vs. 3.02 %), Warner-Bratzler Shear Force (4.26 vs. 3.29 kg·cm−2), and myoglobin concentration (0.41 vs. 0.32 mg·g−1) than caged rabbits. The housing system had no effect on the dressing out percentage, viscera proportion, and ultimate pH. Open-air housing system reduces the growth of rabbits and the fat content of carcasses and increases the redness colour of meat.

23 PREGNANCY RATE IN NELORE COWS AFTER TEMPORARY CALF REMOVAL, AND USE OF HORMONAL PROTOCOLS WITH eCG

Both temporary calf removal (TCR) and administration of eCG are potentially useful to improve pregnancy rates in animals treated with fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocols. In the present work, two experiments were performed to compare the efficiency of eCG and/or TCR in FTAI protocols, with or without exogenous progesterone. In experiment 1, lactating Nelore cows (40 to 70 days post-partum, n = 220) were allocated to two Groups. At a random stage of the estrous cycle (Day 0), animals from Group GPE (GnRH/PGF2α/Estradiol)/eCG were treated with GnRH (50 mg lecireline, i.m.; Gestran Plus®; Tecnopec, Sao Paulo, Brazil). Seven days later (Day 7) they received PGF2α (150 mg D-cloprostenol, i.m.; Prolise®, Tecnopec) and eCG (300 UI, i.m.; Novormon®, Syntex). On Day 8 estradiol benzoate (EB, 1 mg, Estrogin®, Tecnopec) was administered, and 30–36 h later the animals were inseminated (FTAI). In Group DIB (bovine intravaginal device)/eCG an intravaginal progesterone-releasing device (1.0 g, DIB®, Syntex, Buenos Aires, Agrentina; Day 0) was inserted into the vagina of cows and EB (2.5 mg, i.m.) was given in parallel. Eight days later (Day 8), eGC (300 UI, i.m.) and D-cloprostenol (150 mg) were administered. Then the DIB was removed. Twenty-four hour after DIB removal, cows were treated with EB (1.0 mg, i.m.), and 30–36 h later the animals were inseminated (FTAI). Ultrasonographic evaluation of ovaries was performed in all experiments 10 days before and at the beginning of the treatments or TCR, in order to detect the presence of CL. Cows from Group DIB/eCG showed higher pregnancy rates than those from Group GPE/eCG (58%, 72/124 vs. 39.5%, 38/96, respectively, P < 0.01). Furthermore, only in Group GPE/eCG were pregnancy rates higher in animals with CL (47.6%, 20/42) when compared to those without CL (33%, 18/54, P < 0.05). In a second experiment, a possibly beneficial effect of TCR on GPE/eCG protocol was tested in lactating Nelore cows (40 to 70 days postpartum, n = 140). Animals of Group GPE/eCG (control) were treated as described above, whereas calves were removed for 48 h from cows in Group RTB/GPE/eCG prior to hormonal treatments. Lactating Nelore cows having their calves removed showed a significant increase in pregnancy rates compared to those without TCR (51.2%, 34/66 v. 28.4%, 21/74, respectively, P < 0.01), in both situations: animals with CL (54.8%, 17/31 v. 33.3%, 11/33, respectively, RTB/GPE/eCG v. GPE/eCG) or without CL (48.5%, 17/35 v. 24.3%, 10/41, respectively, RTB/GPE/eCG v. GPE/eCG). In conclusion, these results indicate that addition of eCG to the GPE protocol was not efficient enough to produce comparable results to those obtained with DIB/eCG protocol. However, calf removal before the GPE/eCG treatment increased pregnancy rates in cycling or anestrous (without CL) lactating Nelore cows.

Newborn screening for sickle cell disease in Brazil: the Campinas experience

Newborn screening for sickle cell disease commenced in 1992 in Sao Paulo State and by the end of 2000, the programme covered 78 institutions in 36 municipalities with the screening of 281,884 babies. Initially based on liquid cord blood samples, these are being replaced by dried filter paper capillary samples to ease handling and avoid diagnostic confusion from maternal contamination. The prevalence of sickle cell trait (2.0%) and HbC trait (0.6%) increased significantly between 1996 and 2000, apparently because of improved detection rather than the later introduction of institutions serving populations with higher trait frequencies. There were 29 babies with homozygous sickle cell SS disease and 26 with sickle cell-haemoglobin C (SC) disease, the latter significantly exceeding expectation and possibly attributable to a nonrandom selection of partners. Sickle cell-beta thalassaemia syndromes were proportionately more common than in Jamaica, and it is possible that this results from interaction with other Brazilian populations carrying higher beta thalassaemia gene frequencies. The frequency of abnormal haemoglobins in this population is lower than in Jamaica, but clinically significant sickle cell disease occurred once in every 5527 births, comparable with the frequencies of other significant inborn errors of metabolism.